2 Samuel 14:21

21 And the king said to Joab, See now, I will do this thing: go then and Come back with the young man Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 14:21

And the king said unto Joab
Who was present, or but at a little distance, waiting the issue of this affair:

behold now I have done this thing;
have agreed to recall Absalom, at the suit of this woman, which thou hast put her upon; or, according to the textual reading, "thou hast done this thing" F18; contrived this scheme, to let me know the mind of the people with respect to Absalom, or to represent to me the propriety of sending for him home:

go, therefore, bring the young man Absalom again;
I give my consent to it, and you may send for him, or fetch him as soon as you please; it is thought he calls him a young man, to extenuate his crime, that it was done in youthful heat and passion, and therefore he should pass it over.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (tyve) "fecisti", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

2 Samuel 14:21 In-Context

19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman in answer said, By the life of your soul, my lord the king, it is not possible for anyone to go to the right hand or to the left from anything said by the king: your servant Joab gave me orders, and put all these words in my mouth:
20 This he did, hoping that the face of this business might be changed: and my lord is wise, with the wisdom of the angel of God, having knowledge of everything on earth.
21 And the king said to Joab, See now, I will do this thing: go then and Come back with the young man Absalom.
22 Then Joab, falling down on his face on the earth, gave the king honour and blessing; and Joab said, Today it is clear to your servant that I have grace in your eyes, my lord king, because the king has given effect to the request of his servant.
23 So Joab got up and went to Geshur and came back again to Jerusalem with Absalom.
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